Quality Evaluation of Included Randomized Controlled Trials in Cochrane’s Urinary Incontinence Systematic Reviews Group

Objectives: To evaluate the quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses conducted by the Cochrane Urology Group on urinary incontinence (UI). Design: A systematic review. Setting: Cochrane Urology Group on UI. Participants: 37 systematic reviews, which included a total of 611 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on searches until July 2023. Outcome Measures: Quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Results: The most common risk of bias in the included RCTs was related to the blinding of participants and personnel, also known as performance bias. The findings also highlighted the prevalence and impact of UI, a condition that is often underreported due to social stigma. Our results emphasize the importance of maintaining high-quality studies in the Cochrane Library, which is pivotal in enhancing medical knowledge and facilitating improved clinical decision-making. Our findings underscore the need for the rigorous evaluation of the methodological quality of studies, a crucial step in selecting the superior clinical literature. Conclusions: Despite significant enhancements in the quality of studies, there is still a considerable distance from achieving an ideal RCT.